Live Free

Family trip to North Carolina

Last week, my husband, daughter, mom, and I took a road trip to western North Carolina. From Texas, the drive takes about 18 hours. We broke the drive up into two days coming and going, stopping in Louisiana. 

What a special trip! With the leaves changing, those beautiful old mountains craddling us, and my family to explore and dream with, my heart was brimming with peace and joy. 

There is something about fall. And the gentle rolling mountains of Appalachia. If reincarnation is true, then my soul must have spent a lifetime or two somewhere in her damp forests.

We all had such a wonderful time. Byron and I got to squeeze in two morning hikes, just the two of us. Quiet, brisk, and then slow, and quiet, listening, pausing, sitting, watching, breathing. There is no better date for the two us. Mom and Beatrix got to bond while being back seat passenger buddies. They enjoyed each other so much, playing all sorts of imaginary games, and sharing plenty of cute conversations for Byron and I to eavesdrop on, which made us grin and chuckle quietly.

Sleepy dreams were nudged awake.  The three of us were pretty much sold (again) on cabin life in the woods. One day, maybe, we'll find our way back to four seasons, tall trees, and mountains. 

 

 

And as if a family road trip and the mountains weren't enough to feed the soul, I had the wonderful pleasure of spending time with Amanda! We've been reading each other's blogs for a couple of years now and I've long thought it would be so great to meet her and her sweet family in real life. The first time Byron and I drove to her house, I knew immediately which one was hers without even looking at the address because it just looked like her (and the glimpses I'd seen from her photos). Quaint, homey, and oh so lovely...

And let me tell you, Amanda went far and beyond to make us feel welcomed - all while juggling work, a visit with her grandma, and a poor, sick little one.  I'm so glad we got to meet in person. Blog land is such a peculiar venue for creating friendships. Meeting her was all at once exciting, comfortable, and awkward. But mostly...it was just awesome.

On one morning, both our families went apple picking together. It was a perfect, fall day -- rolling hills, apple trees for acres and acres, two families, little girls and big girls giggling and getting to know each other.

Now we are settled back into life in Texas though a piece of my heart stayed in Appalachia, tucked beneath the mossy patches and the damp fallen leaves in those beautiful, misty mountains. 

Walking

 

Walking...we do a lot of it now in our new town. Depending on which direction we choose as we leave our house, we can end up in vastly different environments. I love that. An after dinner stroll is always a special treat - one that all three of us look forward to. Yesterday evening, our walk took us up to the hike and bike trails that follow the river that cuts through our town. The path led us to the local swimming hole. Here we dipped our toes into the clear, rushing water, searched for skipping stones, admired the view, and felt so much gratitude for this place we call home - our extended backyard.

While we were there, there were a couple of teenagers frolicking in the water with their black lab. They looked so carefree and innocent - with a lifetime of dreams ahead of them. I thought of Bea and how she might very well grow up learning to know these pockets of nature like the back of her hand. This life goes by so fast. Sooner than I realize it, she'll be the young adult on the other side of the hole, communing with her friends, where the water runs clear and the sky is the limit. Until then, I'll enjoy these simple family adventures for as long as I can.

annual pilgrimage

What a beautiful spring day in the Texas Hill Country! 

We took our annual pilgrimage to visit our favorite farm. I remember our trip from last year so very vividly. It was Beatrix's first time visiting as a walking/talking little person. She's grown so much since then. At least the bonnet still fits her. She just loves wearing it in the spring!

Like last year, it was heartwarming to watch her frolic around the grounds. She's so comfortable being outdoors and being around animals of all sorts. Although, she had a particular fondness for the chickens (never tires of trying to catch a hen) and the sheep (who doesn't). She was a bit more sophisticated this year. She enjoyed venturing off to different parts of the farm, opening gates and doors all by herself, without Byron or I right next to her. "I'm going around this way, Mommy and Daddy!" she would yell.  

As long as she stays within view or earshot of us, we are comfortable with this. In fact, it is exciting to watch her learn to explore familiar places in ways that she had not before.

So much has changed in one year. Some of our dreams have come closer to fruition. We've moved to the country and are enjoying the slower pace that a small town has to offer. Our little home and the little piece of land it sits on provides us with so much peace. It's a lot of fun turning our blank slate of a yard into a thriving farmette!! 

We are happy, healthy, and busy working and playing side by side. I couldn't ask for more. 

 

 

 

the details...

This weekend, Beatrix and I enjoyed a wonderful honor of receiving a sweet little package from Lilli, one of my favorite bloggers, who lives with her children and husband in Norway. Her world is cold and damp. My world is hot and dry. I like to think that we understand each other's secret longings...

Lilli's words and photos are incredibly mesmerizing to me. She writes with such openness and thought. Her photos never cease to make me pause for just a moment, oftentimes longer. They are breath taking.  

The package we received was as lovely as her blog. So thoughtful. So elegant in its simplicity. A true lesson to stop and slow down and to pay attention to the details of the moments. To savor the beauty of our everyday lives. 

We appreciate these gifts from our friends who live across the sea so very much. Thank you Lilli!

Day Tripping

This is my last post about our week in Louisiana. 

Last week, my mom and I did something we use to do so often when I was a child.  One of our favorite things to do - especially during hunting season when the men (my grandfather and uncles) and my older brothers spent their weekends away at the camp hunting - was to load up the car with my aunts, grandmother, and cousins.  This was all, of course, before car seat laws. My goodness, I remember it so vividly - the feeling of squashed hips and legs, an ice chest of deviled eggs and sandwiches, and the excitement and anticipation of where our journey would land us.  

Even as a young child, I loved to travel.  It didn't matter where I was going. I was just interested in going and seeing.  Since I grew up in a single parent home, we couldn't afford long road trips or beach vacations. But we did do a lot sightseeing within my home state of Louisiana.  

I remember one of my favorite little towns was St. Francisville. To get there, we had to take the ferry across the mighty Mississippi, which was, without a doubt, an added bonus. I remember St. Francisville as being a picturesque little town, full of lush green hills, historical antebellum homes, and antique stores. What I loved as a young girl, is what I love still. (It's so funny to think about how much I still resemble the little girl I once was so long ago).  

Last week, I asked my mom if she would want to visit St. Francisville again. Neither one of us had been there in what must be 20 years. Was my memory accurate? Would I still find it just as quaint and charming? Would I find myself wanting to wander around, taking in the architecture of centries old southern homes, and lush sub-tropical gardens. 

Mom was happy to make the drive with Bea and I. Though the ferry crossing the river has been replaced with a state of the art bridge, the town was just as I remembered it.  Sweet as can be. I wish we could have spent more time there. As much as I like exploring off the beaten path, my little two year old can only take so much. 

We managed to take a nature walk through the Audubon State Historic Site. 

We strolled through the gardens and outbuildings of the Oakley House, a plantation that dates back to 1806. 

We did a tiny bit of walking through the historical district, though I could've done so much more if given the opportunity. 

It felt really, really good to be in the presence of such a photogenic little town.  I can't wait to return!  

 

 

Being productive in Louisiana.

Well, I have to admit, even though I was away from home last week, I was pretty productive with little chores I wanted to start and finish up. Mom is a good motivator. She's a woman who just doesn't stop moving and cleaning, and doing things, and organizing, and cooking, and working in the yard, and on and on - ever. Believe me, I'm a total slacker compared to her. 

I'm beginning to make a few pieces of clothing here and there for Bea to wear this fall. So last week I made her a dress and corduroy pants. Both turned out pretty cute and I really enjoyed using my mom's sewing machine. Being able to use the zig zag stitch on seams made me feel so big.  

As part of my Lifeways training requirements, I have to knit or crochet at least six wash cloths. For the past several years, I've said that I've wanted to do this - to make wash cloths. There's just something divine about the weight of crochet or knit cloth. And wash cloths seem so much more doable for my remedial knitting skills than socks or a sweater. Yet I haven't made any. Until now. I'm knitting up cloths left and right these days...sort of. And I'm way past my quota. My hopes are to have a healthy quantity for the start up of the new school year at The Natural Child.  After play time, I'd like to have a little wash basin with warm lavender water where the children can wash their little faces and hands using a nice knit wash cloths.  I've been doing this with Bea when she wakes from her nap each day and she (we) love(s) it. Well, more than she likes me wiping her face and body, she really loves washing my face and body.  She can be so gentle and sweet sometimes! 

A neighbor down the road from my mom has a small blueberry patch, so we got to do a little blueberry picking.

Though in all honesty, by the time we arrived at his house, it was really hot and humid. Bea was distracted by the heat and we only managed to pick two pounds!

Still, there's no blueberry picking in our part of Texas, so I was happy to pick even a small bucket full. Kerplink, kerplank, kerplunk....

My mom, who declares herself not a gardener has a fantastic garden this year! She's learning a thing or two from my brother for sure.  Last week, she had more tomatoes than she could give away to friends, neighbors, and family, so she helped me can them. 

She enjoyed having a little helper around to help her bring in the harvest at the day's end! 

It was my first time canning tomatoes and it was so much fun doing it with her. She use to be an avid canner in her early years of motherhood, but it had been many, many years since she has preserved anything.  We canned about 25 pounds of whole/crushed tomatoes.

You should see my tiny pantry. Nearly half of it is taken up by canned tomatoes and the strawberry jam that I made in May. I'm sort of proud about the actual putting up I've done this year. Though I don't think I have any more room to put anything else up.  

Otherwise when we weren't working away, Mom thoroughly enjoyed being in the presence of Bea. She was so floored by her verbal skills, as it had been four months since the last time she saw her. Bea's newest phrase that she likes to say 568 times a day is "hey mom."  I guess she heard me call my mom that way, so now she calls out to me that way too.  She is so silly.  

Bea also got to bond with her big cousin Sophie.  Those two are something else together. It's like they've known each other in previous lives or something.  Sophie is nine years older than Bea and they absolutely adore each other. "Come on Sophie!" Bea would say.  And off they would go, "writing", drawing, playing with marbles, or just lounging together on the couch. Today, Bea asked me several times to go to Sophie's house. A request like that tugs on my heart strings a bit. Since day one, I knew my girl was an old soul. Goodness, is she ever... 

Tomorrow I'll post about the day trip we took.  

Louisiana

Beatrix and I returned home today after spending a week in Louisiana.  We had such a wonderful time visiting with family and staying busy with all sorts of projects.  I'll share a few little stories in the upcoming days. And I'll leave you tonight some snapshots from my childhood home.  

Laundry piles up even while away from home. Hanging it out on the clothesline is one of my favorite household chores, so I'm glad that I am able to keep up the routine even when I am away from home.

This is the little patch of woods behind my mom's.  Beatrix and I like to explore in here.  

Junk piles in the country...man vs. nature. I'm not sure who's winning over here.

Thunder, lightning, wind, swollen rain drops.  Truly glorious and sacred. I use to take summer thunderstorms for granted. Not anymore. 

I'm looking forward to getting back into a solid routine of being home for the remainder of the summer. I can already feel the end approaching and I'm feeling a bit perplexed about how quick our days are rolling on.

Savor, savor, savor is my mantra right now...

Love to you all! 

XO, Nichole

Sunday morning

We spent our morning at our local botanical garden. 

I never tire of the beauty of this space. 

Especially the Japanese exhibit. 

It's really, really lovely. 

Even in sweltering temperatures. 

Somehow being outdoors here, seems bearable.

And enjoyable. Exactly what we needed. 

She was all smiles and giggles.  

 

"Let's do this!"

When she FINALLY reached the beach, you know, sand dunes and all, where water and sand actually collide, she looked up at us, with her bucket and shovel in hand, and said, "let's do this!"  

I kid you not. And there we were again, Byron and I, in our usual understated demeanors, sharing quick glances with one  another in our "Ready for this?" expressions while trucking forward... Following our two year old as she witnessed The Big Beach for the very first time. With her eager and passionate energy engulfing us all, we put behind the long road trip and submerged ourselves in all the fun and wonder that the sea has to offer.  

I think the photos speak for themselves.   

Truly though, as Byron and I have a history of being less than enthusiastic beach goers, preferring mountains and forests, we were pleasantly surprised by how refreshing our little weekend by the sea really was. 

The crowds - minimal. Our little beach cabin - just perfect, really.  The gulf and the beach - gorgeous. The weather - sublime. 

Thanks, Bea for dragging us to the beach. It was just what we needed.  

 

The Big Beach

In our parts, the season of summer gets a bit of a head start from the rest of the thawing country. Though school is still is session, and the calendar insists upon six more weeks of spring - the weather is feeling increasingly and undeniably summery. Her nature shelf and seasonal books are witnesses to this transitional time of the year.

These days, the little one's basket o' books are filled with lovely, simple, beautiful illustrations of beach and water scenes. 

And nothing, (except perhaps illustrations of snow scenes) gets her so entralled. Eyes big, fingers pointing. "Look mommy, they're building sand castles." "It's the beach mommy!" "The ocean!" She fiercely loves water. 

So we're packing it up for a few short days, heading to the big beach, and giving this girl a chance to feel the sensation of toes in wet sand, coupled with the rhythmic crashing of waves. To inhale the salt air and feel the moistness of the ocean on her arms. To collect sea shells and rocks and rake piles of seaweed. And of course, to build sand castles until her little heart's content. 

She tells me we'll need our bucket, shovel, and swimsuit. Got it.